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thebossross.bsky.social
TheBossRoss
@thebossross.bsky.social
🇩🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Friendly & wordy. Work-from-home knitter. Kind, not stupid. Ally of decency.
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Team Science. Team Democracy. Team Diversity.
***
Based in Germany. In love with Scotland. At home in more than one place.
Pinned
In country after country, far-right populists offer easy solutions to often non-existent crises, fuelling xenophobia, jealousy, rage for votes. Once in power, they (ab)use their position, serve themselves, & keep people angry while solving nothing. Those who have not yet realised this don't want to.
"A NASA study predicts that 96% of the images from the ARRAKIHS mission will be contaminated by the light from the more than 500k devices that Starlink & other megaconstellations intend to launch"

"The threat posed by Elon Musk’s satellites also affects #space telescopes like Hubble"
The threat posed by Elon Musk’s satellites also affects space telescopes like Hubble
A NASA study predicts that 96% of the images from the ARRAKIHS mission will be contaminated by the light from the more than 500,000 devices that Starlink and other megaconstellations intend to launch
english.elpais.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Gestern habe ich an einer Litfaßsäule ein Plakat für den Duisburger Weihnachtsmarkt gesehen. Oh ja, ein wenig Licht wäre schön - die Tage sind derzeit so dunkel. Also hab ich auf die Webseite geschaut. Ich weiß nicht - wann hat das begonnen, daß Weihnachtsmärkte mehr Rummel sind?
December 7, 2025 at 7:42 AM
As much as I'd love to see him cross, I believe Starmer's too timid, tied to Blue Labour & to Labour's red (campaign) lines to cross. It will take a new, braver person to do this. #Brexit

Cartoon: Andy Davey
December 7, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Searching online for a template, I was surprised to learn #Wales has exchanged its signature dragon for a squirrel.

When did that happen?
December 7, 2025 at 6:25 AM
People say TikTok is by far the worst social media. I thought this was bcs of its reach. I didn't realise it's baked into its design & algorithm. Plus, TikTok reinforces addictive dopamine rushes by actively messaging, congratulating & encouraging users. BBC3 did an excellent documentary on this:
December 7, 2025 at 6:17 AM
We're spending a lot of time answering deliberate lies & conspiracies with facts, explanations, & arguments. Normally, I would applaud this for we all learn from every knowledgeable answer. But the people who flood us with nonsense are deliberately wasting our time.
#GoodMorning, everyone.
December 7, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Today's random #German word of the day is this.

📢 m.dict.cc/deutsch-engl...

#LearnALanguage - from today, I will flag every AI-created content as such. Our govts are too slow or reluctant to react. It's up to us to be responsible & transparent. Let's curb misinformation with information.
December 7, 2025 at 5:34 AM
⚠️ #California
Minimum wage increase
Reduction to drug costs
Gender-neutral restrooms in schools
Police ID & mask ban
Ban on cat declawing
Combating auto scams
Single-use plastic bag ban
AI transparency & protections
Required appliances in rentals
Extended window for sexual assault lawsuits
New laws are set to affect a wide range of issues, such as reducing drug costs and increasing the minimum wage.
Key California Laws Taking Effect in 2026
www.newsweek.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Reposted by TheBossRoss
Heartbreaking. The University of Nebraska will terminate its entire Earth science department.

One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.

When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
It's over.

Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.

www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.
www.dailynebraskan.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
A brief glance at the TV. For a moment, I thought Rick Astley scored for Dundee. Tells you my age. 😁
December 6, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Fact check. It's fairy certain Farage applied for German citizenship in 2016.

He was seen standing in line at the German Embassy & asked about it by media bsck then. He never denied he had been there. He refused to deny this was to apply for citizenship.
www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/world/6...
Farage refuses to deny that he’s applying for German citizenship
Former UKIP leader spotted queuing outside German embassy in London, says 'none of your business' when asked by press whether he's applying for dual citizenship 
www.maltatoday.com.mt
December 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
This.

A calm, considered, fair, nuanced text. This is the politics we need, the leaders we need - in fact, the people we need to be. It's much easier to argue this respectful, firm, rational case than to shout populist 3-word-slogans & I applaud that you do, @labourlewis.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The world's your oyster when you've got a bit of cash...

"either invest $1m NZD (~£432,860) for a 3-yr work-to-residency track, or $2m NZD (~£865,900) for an expedited 1-yr path. That’s on top of a $12,380 NZD (~£5,359) application fee & requirement of helping run the business you invest in."
New Zealand is Launching a New Four-Year Golden Visa
The new visa for foreign investors includes a path to permanent residency. Here's what to know
www.cntraveller.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I didn't build this bathroom. It came with the house. Every day I see (& every other day for 10 yrs, I'm attempting to wipe away) this stain. No chance. Because it's the tile decor. As is every speck around it that looks like dust. My family somehow thinks re-tiling would be excessive. 😁
December 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
December 6, 2025 at 7:49 AM
A Nativity display at Saint Susanna Parish church in Dedham, MA. Below it, a message: "the holy family is safe in our church", asking people to call a no. if they see ICE.

Rev. Stephen Josoma, says it's to get people thinking about how immigrants are treated, esp during the holiday season.
December 6, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Comedy - reflecting the time we live in. (That's why they don't like creatives, I assume.)
December 6, 2025 at 7:21 AM
So many wonderful ways to use social media. It's a worldwide, barrier-free place to present ideas, art, comedy, kindness, tips, silliness. We can make people laugh or think. Instead, we flood the space with hateful nonsense. I wade through it, eyes closed, to find such gems.
#GoodMorning, everyone
December 6, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Today's random #German word of the day is this.

📢 m.dict.cc/deutsch-engl...

#LearnALanguage - at this stage, Chat GPT is likely wondering why I'm obsessed with the man's hair. 😁
December 6, 2025 at 6:04 AM
No words.
this shit is just beyond parody, man
December 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
With the 2nd advent around the corner, it's my duty to acquaint you with the following seasonal poem inspired by a traditional Xmas carol. It forms an essential part of #Xmas culture. Every child knows it. I didn't make the rules. 😉
December 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
German podcast on crimes in history, narrated by studio hosts who seem 14. Losing the will to live. Jokes about bakeries w/o oat milk (crime date: 1916), infantile giggling about historical quote "relationship of a lesbian nature", & no idea what 'black markets' are.Have people no general knowledge?
December 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Regularly now, unusual suggestions & unprecedented policies are euphemised as brave, gutsy, courageous, or thinking outside the box.

More often than not, these suggestions / policies are simply unlawful.

That's not the same.
(& the reason nobody proposed them before)
December 5, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by TheBossRoss
My great-uncle was born in the Russian Empire and wrote God Bless America
Rep. Kat Cammarck: "Today, one in six people in the US is foreign born. That quite frankly is not sustainable to maintain a culture that we are known for here in the United States."
December 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
"Over a million descendants of Spaniards have applied for citizenship, overwhelming consulates"

While the Democratic Memory Law's Oct 21 deadline has come & gone, the "1.3 million [...] waiting for an appointment." have been given a grace period.
english.elpais.com/spain/2025-1...
Over a million descendants of Spaniards have applied for citizenship, overwhelming consulates
Another 1.3 million are waiting for an appointment. The avalanche of applications in the final months before a deadline expired could delay the process for years. Most applicants come from Argentina, ...
english.elpais.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:43 AM